Red flesh

Bonito (Katsuo)
Bonito (Katsuo)

Bonito (Katsuo)

【Nigiri sushi: Akami
Bonito that are heading up north along the Japanese islands called noborigatsuo (初鰹 or 上り鰹), which has a moderate amount of fat and light taste. Bonito that is going down south is modorigatsuo (戻り鰹 or 下り鰹), very fatty and best eaten with green long onions and ginger. It loses freshness easily, so it was not used for sushi until after the Showa Period began.

Grained ginger served together with bonito fish is common to get rid of the smell of bonito fish. However, the bonito fish in great condition matches with various flavors such as karashi mustard and wasabi. Recently there have been more places that serve bonito fish with karashi mustard.

Also called Arctic bonito or Ocean bonito or Skipjack or Striped bellied bonito or Watermelon.

Main production area

Kochi Wakayama Chiba Nagasaki

Famous production area

Kesennuma Katsuura Sado Island

Season

Spring・Autumn